When to use it

[bazzadigz C+]

Hey folks,

Its been a while since I have been on here but im getting back into cycling again so this is my first port of call

I used my works ride2work scheme last year to order a Montague Paratrooper bike but after a 6 month wait for the bike I wanted it never arrived. As a gesture of good will I was offered the chance to get a bike that was worth more than the original.

After alot of searching (Brompton, Dahons, Birdy Etc) I chose the Dahon Vitesse P18 (mainly cost vs gear ratios vs quality).

Unfortunatly I never bothered to read the weight restrictions on the bike and it was only after I had recovered from injury I read the instruction pack. It states that the maximum rider weight should be 230lbs (16st 5ish). I was weighed as 262lbs (18st 10lbs) but have managed too get that down too 245lbs (17st 13lbs).

So my question is, how much more weight should I lose before commuting on my Dahon? I heard that the manufactures maximum and the true maximum are between 10-20% so when they say 230lbs its more of a legal notice and the maximum is really 253lbs (18st 1ish)

Im hoping to get my weight down to 13st and feel cycling will be the catalyst.

Any help warmly accepted

 

[corshamjim]

I can't imagine that would make a great deal of difference - just take it easy in the first few weeks and I'm sure you'll soon find you're below Dahon's stated max rider weight and can then step up the pace if you want to. Personally I prefer pottering to and from work at a fairly sedate pace anyway.

Good choice of bike btw. I have a much older Dahon and have happily ridden some fairly long (up to 60 miles) rides on it.

 

[Trickydicky]

Hey folks,

Its been a while since I have been on here but im getting back into cycling again so this is my first port of call

I used my works ride2work scheme last year to order a Montague Paratrooper bike but after a 6 month wait for the bike I wanted it never arrived. As a gesture of good will I was offered the chance to get a bike that was worth more than the original.

After alot of searching (Brompton, Dahons, Birdy Etc) I chose the Dahon Vitesse P18 (mainly cost vs gear ratios vs quality).

Unfortunatly I never bothered to read the weight restrictions on the bike and it was only after I had recovered from injury I read the instruction pack. It states that the maximum rider weight should be 230lbs (16st 5ish). I was weighed as 262lbs (18st 10lbs) but have managed too get that down too 245lbs (17st 13lbs).

So my question is, how much more weight should I lose before commuting on my Dahon? I heard that the manufactures maximum and the true maximum are between 10-20% so when they say 230lbs its more of a legal notice and the maximum is really 253lbs (18st 1ish)

Im hoping to get my weight down to 13st and feel cycling will be the catalyst.

Any help warmly accepted

I have had this with wheels that state you should not be over 90kg but when i first started using them i was 105kg. Now im 95 still not under the max and they have done 1500 miles and are still goin strong (touch wood).

 

[Nebulous]

I've lost a great deal of weight and one of the motivators for that was that I was breaking things - particularly camping chairs. They often seemed to be rated around 15 stone. I always took the view that I was willing to chance it, but knowing I would have no-one else to blame if it broke.

More worrying was where there were real safety issues. I like fairground rides and a lot of them seemed to be rated at 100kg. At my peak I was 115.
I usually went for it anyway, but worrying about how safe I was certainly took the edge off my enjoyment!

I had a mountain bike all the way through, and never gave its capacity a second thought, but I bought my roadbike at about 15 stone 10 and it has been fine.

So I would say its your call - you could chance it, particularly if you ride carefully, but you'll have nobody to blame but yourself if it goes wrong.

 

[bazzadigz C+]

Thanks guys,

Ive decided that Im going to say sod it, if it breaks then it breaks...although i will be disappointed if it did. I cant keep living life in the "what if" frame of mind

Roll on monday

 

[Moodyman]

Bike manufacturers always build in a safety net into their stated limits.

You'll be fine. Enjoy the ride.